The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-10-13
HE WAS ALMOST THERE.
The Story of a Little Colored Boy Who Wa
Going Home-s.Comin' Mammy.n

The Story of a Little Colored Boy Who Was
Going Home-"Comin' Nanny"
"Ann' Chloe, hain't we amos dar
yitP"
"Ye', sonny, almos' dar, praise de
good Lawd; ye' almos' home t yer old
daddy N Sue"
Hit do seem, Ann Chloe. dat 'er
was powful tired; amos tuckered out
nut tn go tn sleep. Kin er lay NAH
head on yore shoulder intake er nap?"
The old colored woman and the
little colored boy were quaint-looking
| hgures as they sat in a train of the
Northern Railroad of New Jersey,
which had just left Tenatiy, bound for
New York The boy was sick. You
could see that at glance. His eyes
We're sunken and the lines were drawn
about his mouth so hard that he
seemed to suffer. His eyes glowed
with an unnatural light, and he moist
ened his parched lips with his tongue,
The colored woman whom he called
''Aunty Chloe" was motherly old
body, and talked to the boy as she
would to baby.
Gently drawing him to her side, she
put her arm around him, and he
closed his eyes and slept
''Po' boy; you's mighty bad, pears
ter me; N hit meks m ole heart bleed
ter see you lookin' SO weak" murmur-
ed the woman tenderly. "You's pow
full hungry ter see yo' people, haint
yerP" and she patted his cheek loving
ly. ''When yo' mudder, V'ginny, went
ter de golden lam, she glib yer ter me
n said: Chloe, tex car of dis ch1ld;'
n fore Gawd, er tried ma bes'"
On rushed the train through the
meadows. The windows were open,
and through the smoke and steam
were waited the fresh odors of new
hay and fragrant flowers. And the
boy still slept.
"Hoo-oo-oo-oop The shrill whistle
startled the boy, and he sat up.
''Hit war on'y de whist, honey"
said Aunt Chloe, and the boy sank
back.
"Aun' Chloe" he said, and his voice
sounded low and far away, s'whar's
my mammy-ma' real mammy?"
''She wild de Lawd, Gawd bless her."
s. N woon er never see her."
"Yes, honey. when yo goes homo
dar, too"
''Aun' Chloe, wen er was asleep. er
dreamt about ma nanny, n er seed
her, n she put out her hans ter me,
n er heard her say-jes low like
Come home hyah ter me, Sammy
n, Aun Chloe -er-wanter-
Again he slept, and Aunt Chloe
wiped away the tears in her eyes. The
boys lips moved. None but the watch
full aunt heard the voice, and it was so
low that only words could be heard.
Then it grew distant, but no louder:
'tEr-see-yer! Yes, er see yer,
nanny, er know yer"
Through the meadows, into Jersey
City sped the train. And the boy still
slept. Gradually the lines about his
mouth softened and he smiled. His
face seemed to glow with an invisible
light and he opened his eyes and
smiled again.
''Is we mos home, Aun' Chloe?' he
asked.
''Mos' home, honey"
Suddenly he leaned forward, his
thin fingers stretched eagerly outward.
Hear dat Aun' Chloe" he whisper
ed; 'do'an yer hear hit? amt it sweet?
Oar. now, lis'en sharp, Aun' Chloe"
Lower and lower his voice sank. Oar
she is, Aun' Chloe. Look, over dar in
de cohner. Yes, nanny, er will. Yes
-Aun Chloe, see de-wait fer yer
boy, mammy-Aun' Chloe er feel
mighty weak an-dar she is. Yes,
yes; er-Aun' Chloe-tell-dadd
dat dat er- has gone-home-
ter-ma-m-ma-m Aun' Chloe
''Lemme lux at yer Goo'-by-
Aunt Chloe; yer been good-ter-me
-'n-;en goin'-home-"
Lower he sank in the seat, and lower
sank his head on his breast.
NANNY" he murmured-s'm -s'mammy
.wait-fo'-y'-boy. Aun'- CIne :
wot-mak'-hit so light" Lower
his head sank. Yes-er'm-cnmin'-
And his eyes closed.
People looked up at the glad cry.
but they saw only an old colored
woman. crying softly over boy who
had gone ''home ter his NANNY"
They had not heard the rustic of the
angels wings.
On rushed the train through the
city. And the boy slept.